Penn State deserves death penalty for Sandusky cover-up
Joe Paterno and other Penn State officials enabled the actions of Jerry Sandusky. (AP photo)
(Updated: 12:45 p.m.)
If we make a big deal about a college football program playing dumb when a recruit takes free shoes or tattoos, or his family lives in a house rent free, how can we look the other way when evidence screams that one of the nation’s most powerful universities enabled a pedophile?
How can we sit through something so sick and vile as the testimony in the Jerry Sandusky trial and conclude that this was a one-source scandal worthy of only one individual or entity suffering consequences?
Penn State should not be allowed to play another football game. It put sport, image and fundraising above everything else. That is what every cheater in college athletics does, and because of that it deserves the NCAA’s “death penalty.”
Southern Methodist University, one of the nation’s top academic schools, saw its football program given the death penalty in 1987 because it put athletic success above what so obviously was considered morally acceptable. Isn’t it now clear that Penn State did the exact same thing?
In fact, what the powers Penn State did was worse. Their actions involved not materialistic goods but defenseless victims who will suffer for the rest of their lives.
According to a 267-page report by former FBI director Louis Freeh, the four most powerful men overseeing the university and the football program – president Graham Spanier (since fired), athletic director Tim Curley (on “administrative leave,” under indictment for perjury), vice president Gary Schultz (suddenly retired, also under indictment) and the late coach, Joe Paterno (fired in what would be two months before his death) — knew far more about Sandusky’s sick perversions and abuse than they let on. They knew it far longer than they let on.
And here’s the punctuation, your honor: They “concealed critical facts,” according to Freeh.
There’s a term for that: cover-up.
“Our most saddening and sobering finding is the total disregard for the safety and welfare of Sandusky’s child victims by the most senior leaders at Penn State,” Freeh stated.
We don’t need to know anything else.
When this story first broke, Paterno said, “This is not a football scandal and should not be treated as one.”
Many agreed. Many still do, including some misguided alumni and football All-Americans and probably surely those numbskull students who marched on campus, embraced Paterno’s statue on campus and protested his firing without any regard for the victims.
The problem is concluding that because Sandusky’s reprehensible acts did not lead to a competitive advantage, the football program shouldn’t pay. But the cover-up changes that. What the powers at Penn State did was beyond anything any college athletic program has ever done, beyond free clothes or free rent and academic fraud.
To hell with a free Camaro. We’re talking about sweeping allegations of a child sex offender under the rug in order to protect a school’s image, fundraising and recruiting. There is no more extreme example of a lack of institutional control.
Penn State deserves to be hit hard. That may seem unfair to the student-athletes, officials and fans who knew nothing of Sandusky’s acts or the cover-up. But that’s the case with all NCAA sanctions.
This investigation was commissioned by Penn State at a cost of $500,000 per month. So much for Freeh having some anti-Penn State agenda. The report numbers 267 pages, resulting from 430 interviews and 3.5 million emails and documents. Freeh’s staff included former prosecutors, FBI agents, police officers, attorneys and a Navy SEAL.
Freeh said he found “more red flags than you could count, over a long period of time.” He said the leaders at Penn State had a “callous and shocking disregard for child victims.”
He said an “inference could be drawn” that the school was trying to protect the football program, noting, “bad publicity affects a panorama of different events, including the brand of Penn State, the reputation of coaches [and] the ability to do fundraising.”
He said Paterno was not being singled out, but at one point declared: “The facts are the facts. He was an integral part of the act to conceal.”
Emails reveal Paterno was clearly following the school’s internal investigation into allegations of a 1998 assault of a young boy by Sandusky in the Penn State locker room showers, something Paterno publicly denied. The same school leaders “proposed a plan of action” after learning of a 2001 incident reported by an assistant coach, but then decided against informing authorities.
“The most powerful leaders at Penn State … repeatedly concealed critical facts,” Freeh concluded.
The “Tone at the Top” of the school, he said, dissuaded school janitors from coming forward after witnessing incidents: “The janitors were afraid of being fired for reporting a powerful football coach.”
Sandusky will spend the rest of his life in prison. He could’ve been stopped sooner. But Paterno and the powers at Penn State were too concerned about the ramifications, off and on the field. That makes it a football scandal, as well.
By Jeff Schultz
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810 comments Add your comment
jb
July 12th, 2012
2:11 pm
NCAA absolutely could shut down PSU football. From another story: For the first time since [NCAA President Mark] Emmert’s letter was written, the NCAA has reacted to its contents in view of the Sandusky case. In it, Emmert warned that Penn State could be found to have lacked institutional control. He cites Article 2.1 in the NCAA Manual: “It is the responsibility of each member institution to control its intercollegiate athletics program in compliance with the rules and regulations … the instruction’s president or chancellor is responsible for the administration of all aspects of the athletics program …”
swayso
July 12th, 2012
2:12 pm
#VoteNow :Should Penn State be held responsible for the cover up ? http://shar.es/t5rcZ
MC
July 12th, 2012
2:12 pm
No Honor At Penn State
Look into the 1951 West Point Cheating Scandal and what adhering to their Honor Code did to their football team.
5150 UOAD
July 12th, 2012
2:15 pm
dwagless………..I have not trivialized the CRIMES committed.
The CRIMINALS need to be the ones punished. The NCCA doesn’t need to add to the list of Innocent Victims with the death penalty.
UGa and many SEC teams have athletes doing illegal things but I don’t see the coaches getting Fined or Fired for it.
The People that did the Cover-up are no longer with the school.
rational person
July 12th, 2012
2:15 pm
Jeff,
Lack of institutional control only becomes relevant where the activity complained of is prohibited by the ncaa. They aont just come in and say “Hey you’re out of control.” I don’t think these activities violated NCAA rules and I think that they have no jurisdiction in the matter.
Stinger2
July 12th, 2012
2:15 pm
Someone mentioned class action lawsuit. If that happens not one of the victims or their families will get anything of substance. Virtually all of the money will go to the lawyers involved. Always does.
SCDee
July 12th, 2012
2:15 pm
Come on, Schultzie. The NCAA will slap Penn State’s hand. Recall that ND State got stomped on for being the “Fighting Sioux,” but Fl State got a pass on being the “Seminoles.” The NCAA only stomps on the little guys.
That said, I agree with your thoughts. But, good luck. It isn’t going to happen.
RxDawg
July 12th, 2012
2:16 pm
“Big Ten Champs Nebraska
July 12th, 2012
1:11 pm
I don’t think the NCAA wants to venture down what they feel is a slippery slope of punishing schools for matters off the field. Some of you make excellent arguments that the cover up prevented negative publicity, allowing recruiting to continue. The problem is, where to draw the line? I understand how many of you feel and I wish it could be reversed. ”
This is my sentiments exactly.
urban redneck
July 12th, 2012
2:17 pm
not gonna happen.
Benjamin
July 12th, 2012
2:17 pm
Time to break out the boom stick: I agree with your call for the death penalty. This is the worst thing to ever happen in college sports.
dawgs1966
July 12th, 2012
2:18 pm
This is not just a Penn State issue, Penn St. just got caught. Somewhere along the way – “winning” has “trumped “loving”
blue
July 12th, 2012
2:18 pm
can’t remember the source, but saw something on ESPN a few years back when Alabama had some BIG issues (but nothing like this). It was an NCAA official, and he said something to the effect of “based on what happened with SMU, I don’t forsee us ever using the death penalty again”. Weather deserved or not, probably not going to happen.
MC
July 12th, 2012
2:20 pm
Rational Person-
If covering up child rape, and ignoring your responsibilities of report it to the authorities doesn’t fall under the category of “Unethical” then there is no reasoning with you.
FYI; Unethical behavior is listed in the NCAA rules, and the Letter from the NCAA to PSU highlights that.
GTBob
July 12th, 2012
2:20 pm
See I disagree here. The cover up didn’t give them any advantage, it just kept things the same in regards to the performance of the football team.
Pretty much. I am not sure it would have even hurt recruiting if it came out. Right now in the middle of maybe the biggest scandal in college football history Penn State is ranked 15th in recruiting.
ASUKerri
July 12th, 2012
2:21 pm
If they covered it up for a decade then they should lose football for a decade…It will never happen, but it’s what should happen.
Parade of Knuckleheads
July 12th, 2012
2:22 pm
Not only the NCAA should punish Penn State,
The Big 10 Conference should punish Penn State.
The State of Pennsylvania should punish Penn State.
The State University System should punish Penn State.
And Penn State University itself should punish Penn State.
5150 UOAD
July 12th, 2012
2:24 pm
dwag66………..and it is only going to get worse with the new TV contract and “Playoff”!
DP
July 12th, 2012
2:24 pm
President Spanier had his priorities. The Freeh report notes that he banned an agent from PSU’s campus for buying $400 worth of clothes for a PSU player before the 1997 Citrus Bowl, declaring him “persona non grata” and stating the agent “fooled around with the integrity of the university and I won’t stand for that.” He went on from there to cover up the actions of a child molester for the next 13 years.
blue
July 12th, 2012
2:24 pm
rational person
July 12th, 2012
10:43 am
Jeff,
Perhaps you can point me to the NCAA rules governing the sexual abuse of young boys ad the penalties for it. Whats that? Oh, they don’t exist because its a criminal matter completely outside the purview of the NCAA? Gotcha. I cannot understand that people who are advocating this position. Its like arguing that the EPA should prosecute someone for tax fraud.
Okay, I’ll type slowly for you. Ever heard the NCAA or ESPN say “the dreaded Lack of Institutional Control” charge? I would say, irrational, that this would probably easily fall under the category of “Lack of Institutional Control”…the one they always say “dreaded” in front of, that a football coach was knowingly allowed to use football facilities while he had been accused of this. Case close, dolt.
Bigjoker61
July 12th, 2012
2:26 pm
Sandusky deserves the Death Penalty and everybody who committs such similiar crimes.
SEC Fan
July 12th, 2012
2:26 pm
Enter your comments here
Stop worshipping at the foot of Joe Pa!
July 12th, 2012
2:26 pm
Paterno got the easy way out. The rest need to go down. If the university suffers, so what? Players and students can go to another school for Pete’s sake. What about the VICTIMS? Their whole lives are forever marred by what Penn State tried to conceal and ignore.
The fact that school administrators can turn a blind eye to abused children is ATROCIOUS and CRIMINAL!
vapor4U
July 12th, 2012
2:27 pm
So if Paterno could cover-up a prolific pedophile raping boys in the football program showers for over a decade, what other viololations by the program was covered up through the time he was head coach? The conclusion is simple, Paterno could cover anything up based on the culture of the university.
Concerned Citizen
July 12th, 2012
2:29 pm
It certainly makes one wonder how they handle their rapes and sexual harassment complaints. They really need to lose their accreditation. My teen won’t be attending this college.
5150 UOAD
July 12th, 2012
2:31 pm
Institutional Control……..The NCAA using that tern is funny in and of itself.
When the NCAA makes ALL the schools/members have the EXACT same policies on Violations it is just a Punchline to a Joke.
Pee Test players all the time and have the same penalties for every school.
Arrested players get the same penalties no matter the offense or the school the player attends.
All member institutions have to have the same academic standards for admissions.
The NCAA and It’s rules enforcement are a JOKE.
DP
July 12th, 2012
2:31 pm
Perhaps a better solution than the death penalty for Penn State would be a requirement that they funnel all the profits generated by the football program over the next 10 years (as determined by a qualified finance/accounting professional with complete access to PSU information) into a fund for Sandusky’s victims and programs to combat sex abuse of children.
Jimmy Crack
July 12th, 2012
2:31 pm
They should definitely forfeit their 1983 Sugar Bowl victory…jest.
Other than multi-year bans in several categories including recruiting, monies, TV time and bowls, I don’t see any need for a death penalty. The university is going to have enough on its plate demolishing a large number of Penn State structures that Jerry Sandusky physically touched with his hands, including every shower stall, bathroom and door handle in the general vicinity. Concerning the crimes, the main culprit is now in jail for the rest of his life, others are going to go to jail soon, and Joe Pa is dead. They can do what they want to the remenince of Paterno’s legacy and statue. As human beings, this is now a time to heal and move on, not only for Penn State, but for the entire disgusted sports world.
Old Dawg
July 12th, 2012
2:32 pm
SCDee: The Seminole Nation asked the NCAA to leave the mascot at FSU and it did. I know that goes against the logic of most tribes but that’s what happened.
As for Penn State, like I said earlier, the media and societal outcry plus the civil lawsuits will place the school in the hall of shame for decades to come. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can absolve Penn State of these crimes.
Sick to the core!
SEC Fan
July 12th, 2012
2:32 pm
Moosebreath Tech would already have the Death Penalty for this mess. However, since this is PSU, the NCAA will hide and do nothing. Clearly not reporting this scandal years ago was a ‘competitive advantage’ but the NCAA wimps won’t see it that way. You watch, they will do nothing significant. Already major sports writers saying the current team shouldn’t be punished. BS, it is about LOIC, thus the institution should be punished and at PSU that clearly means football! Biggest scandal in sports history and the NCAA will do absolutely nothing of any substance.
Keeper
July 12th, 2012
2:33 pm
Jeff, agree with all of this but one key fact – it is NOT a football scandal. Paterno was right, but not at all in the way he intended. It is a UNIVERSITY-wide scandal. If Penn State had any class, they’d give THEMSELVES the death penalty for a decade (release their current athletes to go elsewhere or stay on academic scholarships with no strings), open up the Penn State Center to Prevent Child Abuse, and fund it at the level of the most recent football budget for that decade. If it takes their entire endowment to fund that and the lawsuit payouts, so be it – would still be both the best punishment and best investment they could possibly make with that endowment.
NeoDawg
July 12th, 2012
2:33 pm
For everyone looking for what NCAA rules were violated simply follow this link to the letter the NCAA sent to PSU dated November 17, 2011. I fail to see how you can read that letter in light of the report issued today and the recent results of the Sandusky trial and still state they didn’t violate NCAA regulations.
Here’s the money passage from the letter “..Bylaw 19.01.2 affirmatively states that “individuals employed by or associated with member institutions for the administration, the conduct or the coaching of intercollegiate athletics are, in the final analysis, teachers of young people. Their responsibility is an affirmative one, and they must to more than avoid improper conduct or questionable acts. Their own moral values must be so certain and positive that those younger and more pliable will be influenced by a fine example. Much more is expected of them than of the less critically placed citizen.” The provision has been cited by enforcement in at least a half dozen major infractions cases in the past. Those who exhibit this behavior are meeting the ethical expectations of the NCAA membership. Those who do not, fail us all.”
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/pdfs/2012/ncaa+statement
billyBobjacket
July 12th, 2012
2:35 pm
The football program is a HUGE cash cow for the university. As long as there are enough people out there who say “don’t punish the other kids”, these places will always try to sweep stuff under the rug and get off with a slap on the wrist when they get caught. We GT folks love to crap on UGA because some of their players drink and occasionally get arrested for it, so it is impossible to ignore when a university looks the other way on the heinous crimes at PSU. Hit them where it hurts, and don’t go easy on JoePa just because he died before the $#!+ hit the fan!
Dawglasville
July 12th, 2012
2:36 pm
5150 UOAD – The death penalty not only serves to punish the guilty, it is meant to be a detterent for anyone who decides to go down that same road. To equate this to anything that has happened at UGA, Tech (see the vacated title), Miami, Ohio State or any other school in recent history is ridiculous. Quite a few of us appreciate Richt runs our program. I like to think we see the big picture, not looking through crystal football glasses. Why not focus on the article. Should Penn State get the noose or not? I say yes. You say no. What about you GTBob? What say you? This is not about Tech or Georgia. Maybe you and I can actually agree on something.
Keith
July 12th, 2012
2:36 pm
Penn St. should definitely get the DEATH PENALTY. As far as the athletes are concerned this is a BETTER result from them. Currently they have to play for a program that is the MOST corrupt is th history of sports. If you just rip scholarships and bowls games, then they are going through all this for nothing. The DEATH PENALTY allows them to go to other schools without having to sit out, while the university has to deal with the ramifications of the lost revenue
athensdawg
July 12th, 2012
2:38 pm
how about this solution……
Step #1 NCAA places penn state on death penalty for one year.
Step#2 Penn State sues EVERYONE who was responsible for covering this up for the amount of football revenue lost for the death penalty year and subsequent years going forward as a result of this.
Hit them where it hurts.
And now I digress to respond to mr 5150’s comments…
first of all….are you familiar with the banking crisis? A lot of those CEO’s resigned….and there are a heck of a lot more innocent people who are paying the price for their stupidity. But, alas, the problems that caused the banking crisis (derivatives, crazy trading schemes) are still going on. That’s why the EU is having economic trouble.
Why is this so? Because the regulators followed your philosophy. Sure, the head guy can quit. But if he has established a CULTURE of wrongdoing or shady dealings, his/her walking out the door really ain’t going to change a thing. It’s human nature. You got to come down hard or people will think they can get away with anything.
Who really is going to suffer from this? Well, students, fans and PSU’s pocket books. It will be over with in ONE YEAR. OMG, no football for one year….not that big of a deal.
The football players will be given scholarships to other schools. The coaches will be given jobs at other schools.
Finally…yes, SEC schools do have their share of cheaters, but….please provide for us one example of an SEC school harboring a known pedophile. When you do that, you have what is known as a logical comparison.
gator guy
July 12th, 2012
2:39 pm
Its this “Just Win Baby” attitude that now pervades sports at all levels. Penn State deserves the death penalty. When you look at the SMU case, which is the only precedent Division IA football program in which to draw comparisons, then such a severe punishment is both legally and factually sound. In short, how can you not take PSU to the woodshed after destroying the SMU program. SMU pales in comparison. Heck, everything really pales in comparison to this. PSU is prestigious, but this is clearly a football issue, because preserving football apparently controlled the thought processes involved here. More importantly, when you let one institution off the hook for something like this, you can never ever use the death penalty again. NCAA, you can take it out of the punishment chapter in NCAA 101 because you would never be justified in using it again if you choose to pass on this. (which I fully expect the cowards at the NCAA to do–they’re too busy looking for free fast food and booster tickets to worry themselves with something like this). Anyway, my rant is over. PSU let “Just Win Baby” destroy years of tradition and achievement. Whether it plays another football game remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, Happy Valley will never be quite as happy ever again.
Hillbilly D
July 12th, 2012
2:39 pm
Look into the 1951 West Point Cheating Scandal and what adhering to their Honor Code did to their football team.
The Honor Code would be more important than the football team, in my opinion.
Sandy Springs guy
July 12th, 2012
2:39 pm
let it go already. The coach is dead and the criminal is in jail. Let the uninversity pay out millions from their billion dollar trust to the victims. Everyone I chat with is sick of the media drumming this up, over and over. It is not a sports story, it is a criminal case and now that trial is done it is time to move on.
Joey
July 12th, 2012
2:40 pm
You are so right, JS.
Also, welcome back.
Jay
July 12th, 2012
2:41 pm
I laugh at all the Penn State defenders. You people are completely blind to the truth.
If YOU or one of your OWN kids was a victim, would you still defend Penn State?
Give the school the death penalty.
raymond
July 12th, 2012
2:42 pm
Paterno knew this scandal would force him to retire and that’s why he covered it up.
official
July 12th, 2012
2:42 pm
Your conclusion is a reduction to the ridiculous. Sure they did wrong, and kids were hurt. But to kill the football program and shut the University? Should the APS be closed because of the cheating scandal? Should Dept. of Child Services be closed because they failed to protect a child? Should the AJC shut its doors because a reporter didn’t do their job? Oh, that’s right the citizens of Atlanta are making that decision by not buying your newspaper.
Lurker
July 12th, 2012
2:43 pm
I understand the desire to punish Penn St. However, there is nothing in the NCAA rules about this criminal an immoral situation. Lack of Institutional Control is not a open ended charge. It means that an institution is not following, and does not have in place a system to follow NCAA rules. It is not something that the NCAA can use to punish a University for public sentiment. The state should punish Penn St. The donors should punish Penn St. The season ticket holders should punish Penn St. The TV networks should punish Penn St. The advertisers should punish Penn St. The NCAA has no jurisdiction.
LawDawg
July 12th, 2012
2:44 pm
I just wish Joe Paterno stayed alive long enough for him to witness his true legacy. People did not hate him nearly enough at the time he died. Eff that evil old corpse.
NAMBLA Member since 2001
July 12th, 2012
2:45 pm
I could not disagree more.
Regardless of how anyone feels about the crimes associated with one of its former employees, no one is claiming that the university or any of its affiliates acted to improve its position in recruiting or affecting eligibility of student athletes. Deal with the individuals who are accused of crimes in criminal courts, and let the civil courts decide where other liabilities may exist.
But the NCAA needs to stay well clear of this entire episode.
It is time for the university, the student body and all the student athletes to heal and move on.
There is no indication that any illegal activites are on-going.
October
July 12th, 2012
2:45 pm
Didnt read article, but agree,,problem is this idiot Shultz wanted to convict Ohio state for 14 k, with just as much venom,,,he is discredited,,,,
JHP
July 12th, 2012
2:46 pm
I have to agree with SCDee.
NCAA won’t take down Penn State. If it was a smaller school of lesser stature, yes.
A sad day for college football. But sadder still are the victims that could have been spared this sick crime.
Auburn Grad
July 12th, 2012
2:47 pm
This isn’t a NCAA violation; it’s a violation of the LAW.
The State of Pennsylvania needs to shut down the Athletic Department for at least 5 years.
Athletic Supporter
July 12th, 2012
2:47 pm
So management screws up and you penalize the employees? While I certainly think that basing any portion of your life on football is a waste, plenty of students do attend this university for that sole purpose (oh, they probably expect to get an education or similar too). It certainly isn’t their fault that these scum allowed a pedohile to do what he did. Is anyone going to be paying for their transfer to another university, or will this penalty you endorce just ruin their football careers?? Sounds like you are advocating screwing a whole new group of boys with your suggestion. Sure, why not just add to the victims in this case? Idiot.
DP
July 12th, 2012
2:47 pm
“are you familiar with the banking crisis? A lot of those CEO’s resigned”
Could you tell me which ones athensdawg, because I can’t remember any. I remember a handful who were fired (though it may have sometimes been spun as “resigned”, the way Spanier reworded a statement by the PSU Board of Trustees to claim that Curley and Schultz requested unpaid leaves), typically when their firms were smoking ruins.